Automatic hair washer, conditioner and dryer combination

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for washing, massaging and conditioning hair. The housing, a rigid outer shell comprises an inner baffle shell provided with means for creating a turbulence when water under pressure is passed therethrough. The inner shell is provided with an elastic band adapted to seal the inner shell watertight when stretched about a user&#39;&#39;s head. Means for supplying the shells with water under pressure are provided. The apparatus further comprises means for drying and means for conditioning the hair. Automatic switching means for operating the washing, drying and hair conditioning means, in timed relationship are provided.

14 Feb. 4, 1975 United States Patent 11 1 Vaiano w m N n c m M a m E F 1 4 2 W m m m M m m 9 m n 3 D! R E Y AR wD D mN A HR C m A M Mn 0 TNM U00 ACC M U Attorney, Agent, or FirmJacob L. Kollin [76] Inventor: Vincent Vaiano, 116-30 l27th St.

T C A R T S B A 1 5 0 2 4 11 N k r a 3 mm 01 Z 05 hl mv 00 SN .G. k r 1 H 2 An apparatus for washing, massaging and conditioning [21] Appl. No.: 415,980

hair. The housing, a rigid outer shell comprises an inner baffle shell provided with means for creating a turbulence when water under pressure is passed therethrough. The inner shell is provided with an elastic band adapted to seal the inner shell watertight when stretched about a users head. Means for supplying the shells with water under pressure are provided. The ap- References Cited paratus further comprises means for drying and means UNITED STATES PATENTS for conditioning the hair. Automatic switching means for operating the washing, drying and hair conditioning means, in timed relationship are provided.

123/65 10 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures 1,709,064 Darcy 1,791,294 2/1931 Ware 3,177,868 4/1965 Wallace et PATENTEU 41975 sum 1 [IF 3 FIG.

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TO BLOWER AUTOMATIC IIAIR WASHER, CONDITIONER AND DRYER COMBINATION The invention relates to hair washing, conditioning and hair drying devices for human head hair in general, and in particular to a device of the above character which is automatic in operation.

An important object of the invention to provide a device of the above described character in which washing, rinsing conditioning and drying of human head hair will follow sequentially and automatically in a predetermined timed relationship.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character which is adapted for home use. A further object of the inventionis to provide a device of the above character which can be stored as a com pact unit.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device of the above character which is simple in construction and economical in manufacture.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description in connection with the appended drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that these are given by way of illustration and not of limitation and that changes may be made in the detail construction, form and size of the parts, without affecting the scope of the invention thought to be protected.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the device,

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line 20 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3a is a section taken on line 3a3a of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3b is a section taken on line 3b-3b of FIG. 3a,

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the device,

FIG. 5a is a section of a turbulence valve taken on line 77 of FIG. 1 showing the valve in closed position;

FIG. 5b is a view similar to FIG. 5a, with the valve in one open position;

FIG. 50 is a view similar to FIG. 5a with the valve in another open position;

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a section of one of the turbulence valves, taken on line 77 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the valve of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a section taken on line 9--9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a section taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 5c and FIG. 11 is a diagram of the electric circuit employed in the device.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the device generally indicated by the numeral 14 in FIG. 1, comprises a base 16, a housing 17, a hollow flexible post 18 mounted on the base and an outer hood 20 provided with a carrying handle 22. An air hose 48 has one end connected to shell 28 and is provided with a valve 46 to stop the waters passage into the hose (FIG. 3a, 3b). Secured additionally to the hood is a detachable pivotable support 24 having a bifurcated end 26, with which the device may be mounted upon the back of a chair, if desired. Mounted in the hood 20 and spaced therefrom is a first rigid, substantially semi-spherical shell 28 and a second rigid substantially semi-spherical shell 30, secured spacedly from shell 28 at the peripheral edges 32, 34 respectively. Secured also to these edges is an elastic band 36 of waterproof material which can be fastened about the head of the user. Both shells are secured to the hood by a bracket 38. Shells 28, 30 thus form a chamber 40. An air hose 48 has one end connected to shell 28 andis provided with a valve 46 for preventing water from passing into the hose before drying the hair. The valve comprises a housing 47 and a disk 49 slidable therein. Disk 49 is formed with arcuate cutouts 53. When water enters the valve housing from above it pushes the disk 49 downwards into intimate contact with flange 55 thus shutting the valve. When the water cycle is finished and air blown through tube 48, the air pushes disk 49 upwards and passes through arcuate cutouts 53. Shell 28 is provided with an aperture 42 to which is secured a water hose 44 and an outlet opening 50 to which is connected an outlet hose 52.

Shell 30 is formed with a plurality of apertures in which are mounted turbulence devices 31, shown in enlarged detail in FIGS. 7 and'8. These devices consist of a housing 53 provided with top and bottom holes 54. and seats 56, 58 in which are received cone-shaped points 60 of a plate 62 having angular passages 64. When water under pressure is forced into the chamber 40 and into the passages 64, it causes the plates 62 to whirl, thus creating a turbulence in the space between shell 30 and the hair'of the user 66 for washing and rinsing the hair. A filter 65 is provided on the free end of the outlet hose. The above described hoses are enclosed in the hollow flexible post 18. The bottom end of the post is secured in a socket 67 of the housing 17.

Mounted in the housing 17 is a valve 68, provided with parts 70, 72, 74 and 76 and a rotatable valve member 78. The valve member is provided with through bores 81 and 83 for sequentially communicating pairs of the valve parts. Water supply hose 40 is secured to post 70, water discharge hose 52 is secured to part 76, the water supply hose being provided with a connector of known construction adapted to fit a wash basin faucet 77. The air hose 48, for drying the hair of a user has its other end connected to the blower fan 80.

The housing 17 is divided into two chambers 82, 84 by a partition 86.

Mounted in the chamber 82 is the operating mechanism for valve 68. The mechanism comprises a lever 84 having one end secured to a shaft 87, fixed axially to valve 68. The other end of the lever 84 is pivoted to the rod 88 of solenoid 90 provided with two separate windings 90a and 90b. A spring 92 normally biases lever 84 in the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, thus maintaining the valve 68 closed, as shown in FIG. 5a. The solenoid windings 90a, 90b are connected in series to an electrical power source, in a circuit shown in FIG. 11.

When the switch 93 is closed and the hose 4411 connected to the faucet 95 solenoid winding 90a is energized through wires 124, I26 thereby pulling rod 88 and lever 84, into the upper position shown by dotted lines in FIG. 2 and moving the valve 68 into the position shown in FIG. 5b. Water passes through tube 118, water inlet port 81, bore 72 through tube and a shampoo and mixture chamber 94, outlet 96, into hose 44 and takes along with it a mixture of soap and shampoo from a soap compartment 99 and a shampoo compartment 97 through pipe 96, having been filled with soap and shampoo, respectively by opening caps 110, 112 in the top of the housing 17. A part of this mixture passes out through tube 114, bore 74 and bore76, tube 116 and hose 52.After a predetermined time a thermoswitch 98, of known construction, cuts in solenoid 90b through wires 128 and 129 moving the rod 88 and the lever 84 further into the solenoid and thus the valve 68 to the position shown in FIG. 50. The water now passes through bore 80, tube 100 which is connected to hose 44 into chamber 40 for rinsing the hair. Following a predetermined time, a reversible thermoswitch 102 (also of known construction) opens the circuit, disenergizing the solenoid, whereupon spring 92 pulls back the lever 84, returning the valve to the closed position shown in FIG. 5a. The reversible thermoswitch 102 simultaneously closes the circuit to blower 80. A heating coil 104 is provided in blower 80 and may be switched on by manual switch 106, if desired. The drying may be continued as long as desired by the user and the fan and the entire device turned off by the main switch 93.

The entire device is compactly stored by disconnecting flexible post 18 and the hoses from sockets 67, 67a and the hood 20, storing these in shell 30 and covering housing 17 with the outer hood 20. The entire device may also be operated manually by turning valve 68 by means of a knob 120 to increase or decrease the time intervals of the cycle above described. Base 16 is formed with a chamber 19 for storing water inlet and outlet hose 23 and electric cord 21. A door 25 closes the chamber 19.

I claim:

1. An automatic hair washer, conditioner and dryer comprising a base, a housing secured to said base, a post secured to said housing, a hood mounted on said post, a first semi-spherical shell spacedly mounted in said hood, a second semi-spherical shell mounted spacedly in said first shell and forming a chamber therebetween, means for supplying water to said chamber and the interior of said second shell, said second shell having a plurality of turbulence devices and a water outlet therein an air supply hose connected to said first shell soap supply means in said housing, soap and hair conditioner supply means in said housing, timing means in said housing for sequentially supplying water, soap, hair conditioner and air for drying a user's hair and blower means in said housing for forcing air into said second shell.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said turbulence devices comprise a turbulence housing, a baffle plate rotatably mounted in said housing, said baffle plate having a diagonal bore therethrough and pivot means for said baffle plate.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said air supply hose is provided with a valve at its junction with said first shell for closing off said hose when water is supplied to said force shell.

4. The device according to claim I, further provided with valve means in said housing for sequentially supplying water and air at predetermined timed intervals and automatic switch means for operating said valve means.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said valve means comprises an annular valve housing having two pairs of parts therein a valve member displaceable in said housing, said valve member having a pair of spaced bores therethrough, each of said pair of bores being alignable with a respective pair of ports, a solenoid operably connected to said valve for aligning sequentially said ports and said bores.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said solenoid is provided with a pair of windings, a pair of thermoelectric switches mounted in said housing, said windings and said thermoelectric switches being connected in series for sequentially operating said valve member at predetermined intervals, one of said switches being reversible for moving said valve member into position to permit air entrance for drying hair of a user.

7. The device as claimed in claim 4, further provided with a soap chamber and a shampoo chamber in said housing and means communicating both said chambers with said water inlet hose.

8. The device according to claim 7, further provided with a blower for drying hair of a user, said blower being connected with said air hose, said blower being operable by said reversible thermoswitch.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8, further provided with a heating element in said blower and a manual switch for operating said blower.

10. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said housing is formed with a hose and electrical cord retaining compartment for receiving folded hose and electrical cord therein. 

1. An automatic hair washer, conditioner and dryer comprising a base, a housing secured to said base, a post secured to said housing, a hood mounted on said post, a first semi-spherical shell spacedly mounted in said hood, a second semi-spherical shell mounted spacedly in said first shell and forming a chamber therebetween, means for supplying water to said chamber and the interior of said second shell, said second shell having a plurality of turbulence devices and a water outlet therein an air supply hose connected to said first shell soap supply means in said housing, soap and hair conditioner supply means in said housing, timing means in said housing for sequentially supplying water, soap, hair conditioner and air for drying a user''s hair and blower means in said housing for forcing air into said second shell.
 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said turbulence devices comprise a turbulence housing, a baffle plate rotatably mounted in said housing, said baffle plate having a diagonal bore therethrough and pivot means for said baffle plate.
 3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said air supply hose is provided with a valve at its junction with said first shell for closing off said hose when water is supplied to said force shell.
 4. The device according to claim 1, further provided with valve means in said housing for sequentially supplying water and air at predetermined timed intervals and automatic switch means for operating said valve means.
 5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said valve means comprises an annular valve housing having two pairs of parts therein a valve member displaceable in said housing, said valve member having a pair of spaced bores therethrough, each of said pair of bores being alignable with a respective pair of ports, a solenoid operably connected to said valve for aligning sequentially said ports and said bores.
 6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said solenoid is provided with a pair of windings, a pair of thermoelectric switches mounted in said housing, said windings and said thermoelectric switches being connected in series for sequentially operating said valve member at predetermined intervals, one of said switches being reversible for moving said valve member into position to permit air entrance for drying hair of a user.
 7. The device as claimed in claim 4, further provided with a soap chamber and a shampoo chamber in said housing and means communicating both said chambers with said water inlet hose.
 8. The device according to claim 7, further provided with a blower for drying hair of a user, said blower being connected with said Air hose, said blower being operable by said reversible thermoswitch.
 9. The device as claimed in claim 8, further provided with a heating element in said blower and a manual switch for operating said blower.
 10. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said housing is formed with a hose and electrical cord retaining compartment for receiving folded hose and electrical cord therein. 